Vital Arsenal Interviews ........ LittleDutch

Ok I realise this one is a bit of a kop-out as LD is always airing his views on the site, but there's no denying his Goonerness and always has an interesting tale or two :)

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1) Have long have you been an Arsenal fan?

Since 1990, when I was six.

2) What (or who) made you start supporting our glorious club?

My Mum's a T*ttenham fan, I think I wanted to piss her off! My first memories were watching the Big Match. Believe it or not, bearing in mind this was the Graham era, it was the fact that I began playing as a winger and Arsenal had flair wide players like Limpar, Rocastle and Merson so I went with them. No surprise perhaps that in the mid 90s I converted to centre back!

3) What was the first live game you attended?

Arsenal v Leeds at Highbury in March 1992. Lee Chapman scored for Leeds in a 1-1 draw, which annoyed the Highbury faithful! I got a season ticket in the 92-93 season and have missed very few games since.

4) What has been the greatest moment of your Arsenal supporting life?

That's a very tough one, I've been fortunate enough to have been at the San Siro twice, the Bernebeu, WHL 04 and Old Trafford 02. The best match was when I was at Old Trafford in 2002, it was a Wednesday night and I was about a week away from my first A Level exam. My English teacher was a Gooner, so I obviously couldn't keep my reason for bunking off on that Wednesday a secret. Funnily enough, I never did get in trouble for that! But as one adrenaline busting moment, mad Jens' save in Villarreal. We had such a horrible time getting my ticket sorted, the flight was massively delayed and we only just made the game. Arsenal played appallingly badly, but in that one moment I literally lost myself. It still gives me goosebumps thinking about it.

5) And the worst?

Funnily enough the CL Final doesn't come close to figuring. Journies back from Cardiff in 2001 and Bolton in 2003 weren't much fun, but it has to be the 1995 Cup Winners' Cup Final defeat to Real Zaragoza. An ex T*ttenham player scoring from forty yards in the last minute of a European Final takes some beating. That said, Eduardo's injury honestly shook me badly.

6) Who, in your opinion, is the best player to pull on the famous red and white strip?

In terms of talent, I'd plump for Henry just over Bergkamp, there was nothing that man couldn't do. But I feel he underperformed in his last two years at the club. For all round contribution Vieira and Adams took the club to new heights over a long period of time. But older family members would be quick to point out the likes of Alex James, Liam Brady and Frank McLintock.

7) If you could go back in time and go to any Arsenal match in history, which would it be?

May 26th 1989 without a doubt. What is so frustrating was that it was in my life time, the day of my 5th birthday in fact. But I was too young to be involved in that awesome experience. I also wouldn't have minded being at Highbury for the Anderlecht game at Highbury in 1970.

Darren Bent powering Spuds in to the Top 4 at our expense was pretty funny, especially when he missed that sitter against us at the Lane. But an unsubstantiated rumour concerning our F.A. Cup win at Old Trafford in 2003. Apparently, Ferguson turned to Beckham and said, 'Ashley Cole made a right c*** of you today!' To which Beckham allegedly replied, 'well Arsene Wenger made an even bigger c*** of you!' No idea if it's true, but I'd really like to believe it is!

9) What are your realistic hopes for the coming season?

We can no longer talk of potential. I think we can win the League and I'm convinced we're going to as well.

10) And finally, if you could invite 4 people connected to Arsenal, living or dead, to a dinner party, who would they be?

Henry Norris- an undeniable pivot in our history and a seemingly very interesting chap- if not necessarily a nice one.

Herbert Chapman- probably the greatest figurehead in our history and an innovative man full of revolutionary ideas. Also fought off the scepticism of contemporary conservatives.

Arsene Wenger- no need to explain this one.

Jens Lehmann- I really enjoy arguing!

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And his contribution to them was...?! Anyway I was merely pointing out all clubs make duff signings, some more than others admittedly. As for the bet I probably know a few Spurs that would! Not me of course.

And his contribution to them was...?! Anyway I was merely pointing out all clubs make duff signings, some more than others admittedly. As for the bet I probably know a few Spurs that would! Not me of course.

Well, I guess I'm a part of the older, I remember going to highbury from I guess around age six and up and watching the likes of Liam brady, extra ordinary skill. I also thought Stapleton and Pat Jennings were great. I would actually like to have dinner with Bergkamp, a player that retired with Arsenal which seems to be something foriegn nowadays. I agree that Arsena will win the PL this year! God Bless!!

Well, I guess I'm a part of the older, I remember going to highbury from I guess around age six and up and watching the likes of Liam brady, extra ordinary skill. I also thought Stapleton and Pat Jennings were great. I would actually like to have dinner with Bergkamp, a player that retired with Arsenal which seems to be something foriegn nowadays. I agree that Arsena will win the PL this year! God Bless!!

Yeah MrA the very fact that they keep going on and on and on and on as if the 5 months hadn't passed is hilarious in itself. And also the fact that they love it and we oblige and let them keep having fun about it is very tellingly funny too.

Yeah MrA the very fact that they keep going on and on and on and on as if the 5 months hadn't passed is hilarious in itself. And also the fact that they love it and we oblige and let them keep having fun about it is very tellingly funny too.

when we played ye the second time we missed a peno also had a reserve team out how ya forget that bit, when o hara had cesc on hes pocket. 90% of team lost in that great match were in the first team for there next match, so dont give me that excuess

when we played ye the second time we missed a peno also had a reserve team out how ya forget that bit, when o hara had cesc on hes pocket. 90% of team lost in that great match were in the first team for there next match, so dont give me that excuess

Do your maths MrA he was more than half but before we start measuring appendages my point was ALL clubs make bad signings. Seems though English players are over priced but I really can't work out why, they're not even that good.

Do your maths MrA he was more than half but before we start measuring appendages my point was ALL clubs make bad signings. Seems though English players are over priced but I really can't work out why, they're not even that good.

Depends which way you look at, using the agruements here that he won medals then you could say Bent won a medal in his first season at Spurs regardless of what competition. Ultimately though both poor buys, no wonder we look abroad! Anyway changing tact what are your expectations for the season and if you'll indulge me what do you think of the 2 derby games this year? Same old result for you guys or a bit tastier affairs?

Depends which way you look at, using the agruements here that he won medals then you could say Bent won a medal in his first season at Spurs regardless of what competition. Ultimately though both poor buys, no wonder we look abroad! Anyway changing tact what are your expectations for the season and if you'll indulge me what do you think of the 2 derby games this year? Same old result for you guys or a bit tastier affairs?

Well I certainly hope so Jaelle I just hope he gives us a good few years as that's how long it will take to hopefully get us competing on a regular basis. Still as we know loyalty and contracts aren't worth much these days in football. I saw enough of us in the games against you, Man Ure, Chelea etc to see we can at least compete under Ramos but as you boys know you have to do it against all the teams, Hull away on a Monday and that's what we do not have that mentality. Still I guess it comes with success and winning, hopefully we'll find out. Sure you would rather we didn't.

Well I certainly hope so Jaelle I just hope he gives us a good few years as that's how long it will take to hopefully get us competing on a regular basis. Still as we know loyalty and contracts aren't worth much these days in football. I saw enough of us in the games against you, Man Ure, Chelea etc to see we can at least compete under Ramos but as you boys know you have to do it against all the teams, Hull away on a Monday and that's what we do not have that mentality. Still I guess it comes with success and winning, hopefully we'll find out. Sure you would rather we didn't.

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